BRING CHARGES IN THE CHRISTMAS EVE SHOOTING OF A 2-MONTH-OLD

To:
Craig Stedman, District Attorney of Lancaster County, PA

On Christmas Eve, 2013, 2-month-old Kestyn Davis was killed by a single bullet wound to her abdomen. According to police reports, and adult family member had been handling a gun in the same room as the baby when it discharged. As of now, no charges have been filed in the death of the infant.

We call on you to immediately file charges against the adult who shot and killed Baby Kestyn, and to prosecute him or her to the fullest extent of the law. Kestyn’s death was the result of criminal negligence on the part of an irresponsible gun owner. This person must be held accountable.

Why is this important?

For too long, we have witnessed American children being shot and killed thanks to the negligent behavior of gun owners. Such incidents are commonly referred to as “tragic accidents,” belying the fact that these needless deaths are easily preventable.

As the leader of the Pennsylvania chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, I am stating that mothers have had enough. We believe that there is no such thing as an accidental shooting death of a child; it is criminal negligence pure and simple.

We call on law enforcement and prosecutors to treat incidents like Kestyn’s death as criminal, and to hold adults accountable for their role in the death of a child, just as they would if the adult killed a child when driving a car while intoxicated.

When our legal system begins to mete out consequences for these needless tragedies, it will be a first step toward preventing them.

Moms are devastated at the death of Kestyn, and we are heartsick to know that similar tragedies are bound to occur in the days and weeks to come. We will not rest until the adults responsible for such tragedies are held accountable for their negligence.

Reasons for signing

Sue M.
2013-12-30 12:02:10 -0800

An accident implies it could not have been prevented. Irresponsible gun owners who cause injury and death need to be held accountable. "Tragic accident" is a misnomer, when it is applied to an irresponsible gun owner.